TAMPA BAY RAYS (13-14-1) at PITTSBURGH PIRATES (9-18-2) LH Blake Snell (0-0, 1.54) Vs
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TAMPA BAY RAYS (13-14-1) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (9-18-2) LH Blake Snell (0-0, 1.54) vs. RH Ivan Nova (0-2, 4.50) Saturday, March 24, 2018 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: LECOM Park TV: FOX Sports Sun Radio: WDAE 620 AM Spring Game No.: 29 vs. AL: 10-12-1 vs. NL: 3-2-0 Home: 4-9-0 Road: 9-5-1 Day 39 of Spring Training 5 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, March 29 vs. Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field (4:00 p.m.) UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS & BROADCAST SCHEDULE Upcoming Games Time (ET) Probable Pitchers TV & Radio Sat., 3/24 at PIT 1:05 p.m. Rays: LH Blake Snell, RH Daniel Hudson, RH Austin Pruitt, LH Jonny Venters WDAE 620 AM Pirates: RH Ivan Nova, RH Tyler Glasnow, RH Dovydas Neverauskas Sun., 3/25 vs. NYY 1:05 p.m. Rays: RH Andrew Kittredge, Relievers TBA FOX Sports Sun, WDAE 620 AM Yankees: RH Brian Keller, RH Brady Lail, RH Adonis Rosa, LH Trevor Lane, RH Raynel Espinal Mon. 3/26 at DET 1:05 p.m. Rays: RH Nathan Eovaldi, Relievers TBA FOX Sports Sun Tigers: LH Francisco Liriano, Relievers TBA Tues. 3/27 vs. DET 12:35 p.m. Rays: RH Jake Faria, Relievers TBA MLB.com Tigers: LH Matthew Boyd, Relievers TBA SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Yesterday the Rays defeated the Blue Jays, 6-5, ROSTER MAKEOVER—Of the LINEUP at PITTSBURGH at home and lost to the Orioles, 6-1, in Sarasota…it was their second and 32 players on last season’s Open- final split-squad day of the spring (also the spring opener on Feb 23)…at ing Day roster or disabled list, No. Player Pos. home, the Rays won on C.J. Cron’s walk-off, 2-run single, their first walk- only 14 still remain in the orga- 2 Denard Span (L) LF 39 Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF off win in spring training in over three years…the last time was March 21, nization: pitchers Matt Andri- 5 Matt Duffy 3B 2015 vs. MIN, on Allan Dykstra’s 2-run homer…they were a half inning ese, Chris Archer, Alex Colomé, 13 Brad Miller (L) 1B away from their first spring shutout since March 19, 2017 vs. PHI. Nathan Eovaldi, Kevin Gadea 27 Carlos Gómez RF Ê The Rays are 9-5-1 on the road, having outscored opponents, 79- (outrighted), Austin Pruitt and 40 Wilson Ramos DH 52…at home, the Rays are 4-9 and have been outscored 75-49. Blake Snell, catchers Wilson 19 Curt Casali C Ê The Rays would need to win two of their final 4 games to finish Ramos and Jesús Sucre, infield- 11 Adeiny Hechavarria SS with at least 15 wins for the eighth time in the last 11 seasons…they ers Matt Duffy, Brad Miller and 18 Joey Wendle (L) 2B never won at least 15 games in 10 seasons as the Devil Rays. Daniel Robertson, and outfield- 4 Blake Snell LHP Ê Rays pitchers lead the majors with a .227 opp avg., ahead of the ers Kevin Kiermaier and Mal- Astros (.240), and rank 6th in the majors and 5th in the Grapefruit lex Smith…only four players League with a 4.03 ERA (247.2-IP, 111-ER). remain from the 2015 Opening Day roster or disabled list, which was Kevin Cash’s first game as Rays manager: Andriese, Archer, Colomé and ON THE BACKFIELDS—Yesterday RH Chris Archer and RH Chaz Roe Kiermaier…Archer and Kiermaier are the only players remaining from pitched in minor league games against Orioles affiliates…Archer suffered the 2013 postseason roster (last playoff appearance)…Kiermaier was on a right forearm contusion after being struck by a ground ball in the 5th the roster for that season’s AL Wild Card Game, but not the ALDS. inning, and was removed as a precaution…he threw 58 pitches, 39 strikes (4-IP, 2-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 1-BB, 3-SO)…Roe had a strikeout in a perfect inning. MINOR LEAGUE REPORT—In January, Baseball America listed the Rays at No. 5 in its Organizational Talent rankings of minor league prospects, READING WITH THE RAYS—INF/OF Micah Johnson and OF Mal- their highest position since 2013 (No. 4)…this rating came before the Feb- lex Smith will read to children from the Boys & Girls Club of Charlotte ruary acquisitions of SS Jermaine Palacios, LH Anthony Banda and 2B County for a segment of Reading with the Rays, presented by Suncoast Nick Solak…the publication’s Top 100 Prospects included six Rays, a fig- Credit Union…in addition, Rays mascot DJ Kitty will be in attendance… ure topped only by the Braves (8)…in addition to Baseball America’s rating, this event is today at noon on the main field at Charlotte Sports Park. the Rays are ranked by MLB.com as the No. 4 farm system in baseball (No. 1 based just on position players), and by ESPN.com at No. 7. ON THE AIRWAVES—Both games this weekend will be broadcast on WDAE 620 AM and the Rays Radio Network, with Dave Wills and Andy TODAY’S STARTER at PIT—LH Blake Snell (0-0, 1.54 ERA) Freed on the call…field coordinator Rocco Baldelli and OF Carlos Gómez Ê 2017 Majors: 5-7, 4.04 ERA (129.1-IP, 58-ER) in 24 starts are guests on this weekend’s Countdown to Opening Day radio show, air- Ê Had three stints in the majors last season…began the year as the No. ing today and tomorrow on WDAE 620 AM at 12:30 p.m. 4 starter and was optioned after 8 starts…did not miss a start be- tween his second and third stints as Alex Cobb was placed on the DL STEADY IN THE BOOTH—Andy Freed and Dave Wills return to the Ê In his third stint, went 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA (57-IP, 18-ER) in 10 Rays radio booth for a 14th season together…among all 30 major league starts…recorded a career-high 13 SO in the Rays season-finale broadcast teams, only two have a longer tenured full-season radio broad- cast duo than Dave and Andy: Detroit (Dan Dickerson & Jim Price enter- DAY-BY-DAY W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP FINAL ing 16th season together) and San Francisco (Jon Miller & Dave Flemming 2/25 at MIN -- 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 L, 4-5 entering 15th season together)…Neil Solondz begins his seventh season 3/2 vs. PHI -- 2.0 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 L, 2-9 on the Rays Radio team as host of the pregame and postgame shows, fill- 3/7 vs. BAL -- 3.0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 L, 2-7 in play-by-play voice as well as This Week in Rays Baseball. 3/12 vs. TB * -- 4.1 2 1 1 1 8 0 0 0 -- 3/19 at NYY -- 4.2 3 1 1 3 9 0 0 0 W, 4-2 RAYS ON THE TUBE—”Tampa Bay Rays 2018 Season Preview” premieres * indicates simulated game tomorrow on FOX Sports Sun, following the conclusion of the Rays vs. TOMORROW’S STARTER vs. NYY—RH Andrew Kittredge (2-1, 5.56 ERA) Yankees game…throughout the episode, FOX Sports Sun Rays Live ana- Ê Was with the Rays for four stints last season, his first career major lysts Orestes Destrade and Doug Waechter break down the pitching, hit- league action…went 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA (15.1-IP, 3-ER) in 15 apps ting and defense of the club, as well as their 2018 outlooks. Ê Named to the International League midseason All-Star Team…went OPENING DAY PRIMER—Next Thursday will be the first time in 50 years 6-1 with a 1.45 ERA (68.1-IP, 11-ER) in 41 apps (2 starts) with Durham that every major league club opens on the same day…the Rays will open Ê Made his major league debut on July 18 at OAK (0.2-IP, 0-R/ER) at home for the ninth straight year, tied for the longest active streak in the Ê Pitched to a 0.87 ERA (10.1-IP, 1-ER) in 10 apps during his final stint AL…local singer, worship leader, actor and teacher Belinda Womack will perform the national anthem…the ceremonial first pitch will be thrown DAY-BY-DAY W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP FINAL by Rays special assistant, baseball operations Tom Foley…see separate 2/23 at BAL -- 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 W, 6-3 press release for much more Opening Day information. 2/26 vs. TOR W-1 1.1 3 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 W, 7-4 3/2 vs. PHI -- 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L, 2-9 TICKETS GETTING SCARCE—Limited tickets remain for Opening Day… 3/6 vs. BOS -- 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L, 1-9 the Rays have a chance to sell out their home opener for a 13th consecu- 3/9 vs. MIN L-1 1.1 2 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 L, 3-4 tive season, which would extend the longest current home opener sellout 3/14 vs.